Method of and apparatus for decorticating fibrous stock



June 12, 1923. 1,458,700

W. S. GROVE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING FIBROUS STOCKFiled July 15 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 12, 1923. 1,458,700

W. S. GROVE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING FIBROUS s'rocxFiled July 15 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 C7? 5 /9 28 27' 5a 24 lg 25 .14 L.:13: 11-51122: .JI: TF l u H 5 b/5 ll June 12, 1923.

W. S. GROVE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING FIBROUS STOCKFiled July 15 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 5] nmmtoz June 12, 1923. 4 5 8 700w. s. GROVE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING FIBROUS STOCKFiled July 15 1919 6 sheets-sheet! nu'l mun 3 vwewtoz MP M- June 12,1923. 1,458,700

W. S. GROVE 4 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR, DECORTICATING FIBROUS STOCKFiled July 15 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 $5 Gttoame B June 12, 1923.

W. S. GROVE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING FIBROUS -STOCKFiled'July 15, 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented June 12, 192%.

UNITED STATES) WINZFIELD s; GROVE, or MANILAQ PHILIPPINE 15mm;

METHOD. or AND APPARATUS non DEooRTIoAT NG rnsaous's'rocx.

. 'Application filed July 15,

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WINrmLn S Gnovn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Manila, Phili pine Islands, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Decorticat'ing;Fibrous Stock, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, a r

The object of the invention is 'to provide a. machine for removing thepulpandwaste from fibrous vegetable plants andfor extracting cleanfibers from said plantsfree from pulp and other waste materials, theinvention also relating to a method which the machine is particularlyadapted to perform. p

The present machine is particularly adapted for obtaining fiber from thesheaths or strips of the trunk or .s-talk of the fibrous plant known as,abaca, commonly called manila hemp. The machine however, can be readilyadapted for the treating of sisal, maguey, pineapple or the like. X

I have found it desirable to produce a comparatively light, portable,power-driven fiber-extracting. ma chine carrying its own motive power. II up r The present machine is designed to extract clean fiber from thestalk with a minimum strain and without bruising, cutting or de-:stroying the cellular .construction of the fiber. The machine isautomatic, continuous unning, requires but "minimum attendance andextracts fiber from the entirelength of the sheath, strip .or-st'alk,,;and automatically delivers the fiber. fromthe machine, freefrom pulp or waste and comparatively free from Water and acids which mayhave been pres cut at the commencement of the operation.

The present machine will hold the mate rial to be .cleaned'duri-ng the"operation of cleaning without bruising the fiber and re duce .to aminimumfthe strain on the fiber caused by the pull of the cleaning-orde- 7 p p a p I stock-gripping members 8 and 9' mounted in suitablebrackets Pt and L at opposite corticating members. p As showingcertaifspecific embodiments of the invention, reference is .made to therawings. forming part of this specification, and 'in' which drawings;

Figure 1 shows in elevation a deoortica ting machine embodying myinvention; 7

Figiu e I9 is a section taken on the-line 11 of Figure '1; v 1

1919. Serial No. 310,897.

Figure 3 is a plan viewof the machine of F gure 1, certain of the partsbeing broken away to show details of the machine; p

I 'Figure l is an enlarged elevational view of the upper part of themachine ofFigure -1 with the parts inthe position assumed at thebeginningfi'of the decorticating operat1on y .liigure 5 shows in partsectional elevation the decorticating members at the end of theirrearward motion; l

Figurejfi is a View similar to Figure 5 with I one of the decortlcatingmembers moved to its extreme forward position and ticating operation;

ready .to perform the first part of'thedecor- Figure 7 is anenlarg'edplan view of one.

of the continuously moving stock-gripping devices; k

Figure8 1s a' view similar to Figure 7,

taken on the line 99 of Figure 9, with the stock-gripping members inpositionto re ceive the stalk .to be cleaned; and

Figure 9 is a section takenoon the line 7-7 of Figure 7.

(Referring to the drawings in detailfl' designates a portable truck onwhich my improved anachine may be mounted when in use 111 the field;2des1gnates a motor mountedupon the truck "and furnishing" motive powerto operate the machine;

designates the frame of themachine and 4 a drum mounted; for rotationtherein. The drum 4 is mounted on a shaft A carrying a gear 5meshingwith a pinion 6., this" pinion being mounted on a shaft Bcarryinga pulvices 7 (four in number), shown in detail in l igrures 7; Sand 9.and in position on'the mach ne in F gures 1 and 2 each of thesestock-gripping devices comprising apair of sides "of the periphery ofthe drum 4, by

meansofpivot-pins 1 0 and 11. p 'The stock-' gripping members 8 and9comprise a pair of sectors provided with serrations or-teebh 1'2an'd 13,which are adapted (to engage the stock to be cleaned and firmly grip thesame f as will be described more in detail herein ley G, which pulley isdriven the motor 2 position of the serrations or teeth '12 and 13. i

The stock-gripping member 8 as the drum 4 rotates is adapted to bejmovedto 21 stockreleasing 10081131011135 means of a st ationary 1 cam adaptedto be engaged by the roller 16, This movement of the member Sis impartedto the stock-gripping member 9 means of the gear sectors 'TO and .71against the tension of spring14, and when the roller 16 leaves the cam15,"t he stock'being cleaned has already dropped upon the drum, andthespring 14 v will then close the stock-grip: ping members 8 and 9 uponthe stock.. The plates 68 and 69 help to guide andholdthe I stockbetween the serrationsor teeth :12 and 13, said serrations or teethbeing cut eccen trio to the centers of the gear sectors 70,71, so thatthe pull on the stock will insure "a perfect gripping, or bendingactionupon-the stock. i .7 v i At the upper part of the frame 3 of the machineand directly above the druin4'is provided a bed-18 on. which are mountedcarriages 45 and 46 adapted to beireciprocated longitudinallyof the bedby means of annarm 20 pivoted at and adapted to be rocked about itspivot through the mediumwof a cam-22. Theiipperend of the armyQO isconnected tothe carriage through the links23. Mounted on thecarriage 45atthenri'ghthand. end thereo f as viewed. in Figure 1, are duprights 24carrying a t transversely-extending imember 25 adapted to receive rods26, the le'fthand end of which rods, as viewed in Figures .3. and

4, for example, being secured .toarms 27 of. a stock-gripping member 27,therods being mounted in the transversely-extendingmeme.

ber 25 in such a manner as to permit lth e latter to be reciprocatedwithout imparting I manner.

motion .to the rods themselves, except Whenv the carriage 45 near-sitsextreme righthand p'ositlon, as viewed lIl Figure 1.;

The stock-gripping member 21 frame of the machine in; any suitable Thecarriage Carried by the carri I to the members 24 is astop 43 providedfor p is mounted for partial rotation ona transversely-en. tending shaft28, and has arms 29, to each of which are secured springs 30,. theother,ends of which springsareattached tothe 45 carries a knife or.decorticating member 33 mounted rigid with. levers 34 upon atransverselyeextending rod: or shaft 35. I The upper ends of theselevers have securedthereto one end of springs 36,

the other ends of which are secured to the members "24 alreadyreferredjtozi f Mounted on the bedlS-i'n "advance of the carriages 45and 46 is a carriage 44 carrying a pusher .member .31 adapted to engagean arm 32 connected with the stock-gripping member 27 ,for apurposeowhich will be more fully set out hereinafter.

The carriage44carr1es a decorticatmg member 37 having arms 38 and,mounted upon atransversely eXtending shaftl .39'. The upper ends ofthese arms carry rollers 40 adapted to engagethe face cams 19, carryingthe transversely-extending shaft'28 already referred to." Secured toithelevers or arms 38are'spr'in'gs42, the otherends of which 'sprlngs. aresecured tothe frame 3 of the machine.

age 45 andcontiguous the purpose of limiting rearward movement of thestock into the machine when the ma chine'is in operation; The carriagejtdcarries a pair of'pivoted arms or gath erers 48, and anadditio'nalpair of pivoted arms or gatherers 47 are mounted on the bed18 in advance of the gatherers 48, th'ese'gatherers being provided forthe purpose of gathering the fibers of the stock after the same havebeen cleaned, so. that when the fibers fallupon the periphery of thedrum'4 the stock may rea'diiybe' gripped riedthereby. I 7

' The carriages 45 and 46 are fm'ovableii d'epende'ntly' of; each other,but at the" first part of the forward moyementof the car ria'ge 45 fthey. are moved simultaneously by by the stock-gripping members and 9car- 'reason' of engagement] of [the transverse member 24" carried: bythe carriage 45 i with the releasing members '41 'nioiintecPon' thecarriage 46, until a predetermined position has been ;I 'ea"cl1 ":diwhich time 5111947., carried in the guideway's in -th'edi e'd18,'e'ngagethe cam surface of the release members 41 The": release membrs 41" being pivoted on, pinsi49 carried by the carriage 46 whenengaged'bykthe jpin's,47f"will be rocked; about their pivots andjout ofI engagement witlrthelowefr ends;'oftheineinbers'24. "Th e' carriage:45. may now continue to move for- Wardly, indepelndently of,thefcarri'age 46.

. At this time, also, the pawls 50 "carried the carriage '46 will lihavebeenfnioved to a position to engagethepins 51 in "thepath rav l. 9 S drawl etfi itfl although the carriage 4615 no longer in en g igement'with} t i a ge-.4 movement of" the former to therear, nd'er. action ofthesprings 52 and 5 3,fis prevented.

In operatiomf theparts' we will assume" are.

first of all,' in the p'ositionshown';inFigure I 1. with the drumrotating constantly in a clockwlse direction.

As the cam 22 moves relatively to the roller 54 on thearm 20, the latteris rocked to the left from the position shown in Figure 1, carrying withit initially both carriages 4'5 and 46, thedeco'rticating member 37',having no elfect, however, atfthis time upon thestock-grlpplng member27',

the 1' 'ods26 riding freelyin the transverse member 25, as alreadydescribed.

The parts continue this movement to the left as viewed in Fighl untilthe lower ends of the levers 34L engage fix'e'dstops 34: secured rigidlyto the frame 3 "and until pusher blocks 55011 the carriage engage blocks56 carried by the carriage 44:, this carriage up "to this time havingremained stationary. l

Ls the levers 34- contact With the fixed out of engagement withthemembers 24 st) as to disconnect the carriages 45 and LL'GIEIOIII eachother. permitting the carriage 45 to continue its forward movement, thecar riage 46 now being locked in the position which it has now assumedby engagement of 'the'pawls 50 with the pins 51 as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 3. On the forward movement of the carriage 46 the o'fi'set Ecarried by each of the gathere'rs 48 will be brought intoengagementWit-h lugs F on the bed 18 and the ga-therers will be swungabout their pivots as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, carryingwiththemthe gatherers47.

tit

As the carriage 45 continues its forward movement; the pushers 55 engagethe blocks 56 carried by the carriage 44:, and the latter will be movedforwardly, carrying the decorticatin member 37-, the rollers 40 on thelevers 38 riding up the face of the cams 19; tom use thedecorticatin'gmember 37'to be raised to the position shown in Figura Itis to be noticed at this time, also, that the pusher member 31 of thecarriage 44 has engaged the arms 32 connected to the stock grippingmember 27 to cause the latter to be v swung upwardly aboutits-"pivot sothat stock may be 'fed tothe machine.

- The parts are now inthe position shown in Figure 4 and in such aposition that the stock may be flied from the letthan'd endot themachine longitudinally of the carriages,-

passin'g' b'eneath-the stock-engaging portion of the stockri pin members27 and the deciorticati-ng mem bers' 37 "and 33 until finally itstel-ward end" enga es the stop 43', the

stock resting upon the beds '59 and 60 of carriages a4 and '45; and base58s .By this time the cam '22 hasmoved'to such a position with respectto the roller 54: on the arm 20 as to cause the arm to move to the righta-bout'its pivot carrying with it the carriage 45, The carriage 4A underthe action of its spring 61 follows the rearward movement of thecarriage 4'5, movingrear Wardly until it engages the end 62 off-thebed'lS. "This movement of the carriage 44: carries the pusher memberBlout of engagement With the arms 32 of the stock gripping member 27,sothatthe same may be actuated by its spring 30 to a position to gripthe sto'cl'r. "As the carriageljt moves rearwardly the rollers 40 movedown the face of the cams 19, thus permitting the springs 4-2 to pullthe decorticating'member 37 down wardl'y into the'position shown inFigure v l, for example. a

*As the carriage 45 moves rea-rwardly and ssf as soon as thelower endsof the levers 3 L move outo'f engagement with the stops '34",

the decorticating member 33 will be moved downwardly about its pivotunder the action of the springs 36 into decorticating position. Theparts are now in position to perform the first decorticating step, thestock being held stationary by the stock-gripping member 27 as alreadydescribed andthe continned rearward movement of the decorticat-f mgmember 33 under the action of the arm 2 will decorticate the riehthandportion of the stock as viewed "in Figure 1, for exampl Asthe carriage45 moves rearwardly, with the decorticating member 33 functioning j astoo iust described, the releasing"]ever*63,- '.(see; Figs. 3 and 4)carried by the carriage, en-

gagescam surfaces 64; on the heads of the pins 51 already referred to,"cause the latter,

to be moved outwardly against the action of the springs '65 and outofengagement with the pawl 50 to releasethe carriage 46.

The latte-r under the action ofits springs 52- and 53, will now be movedrearwardly and at the same time the gatherers l'r' and 48' will be movedunder the actionoit" their springs e and H to' 'the' full line positionshown in Figure 3, to gather, the'stock into a. com{ paratively' compactmass; so as to be readily gripped bya' set of the stock-gripping mem-ihers already I described carried the drum 4 of the machine.

The righthand portion of the stock is'noiv decor'ticated, and the'gavtherers 4:7 a-nd l8 have operated, due to the rea-rwardmove-j mentof the carriage 4:6. This decorticated portion of the stock Wl'll, f 1llupon the periphery o-f the drum and the operationfof the machine is sotimed that the stock Will fallupon the dru'm as one of the sets oftgripping members '8 and 9 are approaching a position to grip the same,holding-"of the stock in the gripping members being aided by theplates'68 and 69 "carried thereby. -i

z-As the carriage nears the limit of'its rearward, movement, thetransversely-extending member 25 contacts with nuts carriedtat therighthand end of the rods 26 to cause the rods-:to be .pulled to the,right as viewed in Figure 4, for example, to open the stock-grippingmember 27, so that when a setofstock-gripping. members on theperiphstock, to insurethe entire stock being decorticated... As the drumrotates, carrying with it the decorticated stock, the remaining portionolqwhich isnow being decorticated, the rollers 16 of thestock-gripping,members 8 and 9 will. engage the camlo and be movedthereby to stock-releasing position to enable the stock to be dischargedfrom the machine,- assist'ed by theiscraper 77 pressing against theperiphery of the drum, to the take-oil table 78, in a completelydecorticated condition It-may herebe mentioned that as many setsofstock-gripping members 8 and 9 maybe provided on the periphery ofthedrum 4 as may be found necessary, it being obvious. that'it is essentialto-have a sufficientn-umber of these gripping members to enable thestock to be always gripped and pulled beneath the decorticatingmember37, until completely decorticated.

The parts are now in the position, shown in Figure 1, forexample, and assoon as the cam 22 has functionedto, carry the arm v20 i to its extremelefthand -position, the, next supply of stock maybe fedto the machinetouhe decorticated.

Fr 0m' the foregoing it I will I be seen that ;I

have provided a machine for the purpose of decorticating fibrous stock,which is capable of continuousoperation, thoroughly decorticates stockand automaticallydischarges the decorticated stock from the machine. .It

will be obvious, also, that in the present machine the strainupon thestock, being decorticated has been reduced to a minimum.

. :Obviously, if v desired, the gripping members herein shownandillustrated could be replaced by carriers on a horizontally movjing'endless chain orbelt-so that thestock could. be jfedhorizontally atall times and discharged from the machine in a horizontal.

manner, without departing from thespirit and sc ope of my invention.Other changes inthedetails of construction could obviously be made by;one. skilled intheartwithout d'e partingtrom my invention [I-claim r'.

I 1 Themethod otremovii g the pulp and waste ironrfibrous vegetableplants in twooperations, consisting in firstgripping one portion of thestock and holding the same stationary, removing the pulp and waste fromthe ungripped, portion of the stock while the stockis so held,thengrippingthe portion of. the stock from which the pulp and waste hasbe'en removed and moving the same and while the stock is inmotionremoving the pulp and waste from the remainder thereof. I 1 a 2.In a machine for removing pulp and waste from fibrous vegetable plantsin two operations, the combination of means for gripping a piece ofstock to hold the same substantially stationary, means for remov-. ingthe pulp and waste froma portion of the stock while the stock is soheld. movable gripping means for gripping that portion of the stock fromwhich the pulp and Waste havebeen removed to set the stock in motion andmeans for removing the pulp andwaste while the mentof'thefirst-mentioned means to 0p erative position for holding thestockstationary during the removal of the pulp and waste. 1 1

4. In a machine of the class described, means for decorticating a'portionot' the stock while the stock is stationary, means for,decorticating the remainder of the stock while the stock isin motion,said last-named decorticating means being controlled by the first-nameddecorticatmg means 5. In a machine of thefclass described,

means, for decorticating a portion of the, stock while the stock isstationary, means for decorticat-ing the remainder of the stock whilethe stock is inmotion, gripping means for] the stock controlled by thefirst-named decortica-tingmeans and cooperating with I 'the second-nameddecortica-ting means whereby: the latter. will be moved automatically toinoperative-position asthe first-named de cort-icating means is moved tooperative position,

- 6. .In a machine of the class described,

a rotatable-drum, stock-gripping means carried thereby, meansfordecorticating a portion of the stock while the stock is -station-. ary,and means fordecorticating the remain-. der of the stock whilethestockis beingheld by said gripping means and the drum is rotating;

7. In a. machine of the classdescribed,

continuously rotating drum, stock-gripping means carr ed thereby meansfor holding I f the stock stationary, means fordecorticating a portionof the stock While being held by said last-named means and'means fordecorticating the remainder of the stock while being gripped by the saidstock-gripping means carried by the drum. Q

8. In a machine of the class described, a continuously rotating drum,stock-gripping means carried thereby, means for decortieating a portionof the stock While the stock is stationary, means for decorticating theremainder of the stock while gripped by said stock-gripping means, andmeans'for automatically releasing said stock-gripping means anddischarging the completely decorticated stock from the machine.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pivotedarm, a plurality of decorticating means controlled thereby, and meansfor actuating said arm to cause one of said deco'rticating means to'function to de-* corticate a portion of the stock While the stock isstationary, and thereafter another of the decorticating means todecorticate the remainder of the stock While the stock is in motion. I

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pivotedarm, a continuously rotating drum, a cam for rocking said arm about itspivot and actuated by ro tation of said drum, and decorticating meanscontrolled by said arm, one of which functions to decorticate a portionof the stock While the stock is stationary, another of which functionsto decortica-te the remainder of the stock While the latter is in motionmember, actuating means therefor control ling the stock-grippingmember'to move the same into position to release the stock as thedecorticating member ceases to function.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of astock-gripping member, means for actuating the same to operativeposition, a rotatable drum, a decorticatin g means, actuating meanstherefor controlling the first-named stock-gripping member to cause thesame to be moved out of operative position as the decorticating memberceases to function, and stock-gripping means carried by the drum forreceiving the deco-rticated portion of the stock when the firstnamedstock-gripping member is moved to stock-releasing position.

l3. In a machine of the class described, the vcombinationof means fordecorticating one portion of the stock While the stock is stock Whilethe stock is in motion, and means for automatically discharging thecompletely 'decorticated stock from the decorticating machine.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand the11th day of July, 1919. I

WINFIELD s. GROVE.

